You Matter… Yes, You!
Tonight was was chatting online with someone who was feeling pretty down, and they said to me that it would not matter to anyone if they just ceased to exist. They said no one would even notice if they just suddenly were not here any more. I said to this person that I'd notice, and that they do matter, to me, their parents, to many others around them... and most importantly, to God. They debated the issue a bit, and tried to side step what I said, but I threw it back out there, asking her if she understood that more than anyone else, God cares about her and that's what truly matters. She threw a statement back at me that was something like, "yeah, but God cares about everyone, so big deal, I'm nothing to him either."
Some 3 hours after that conversation, I'm still thinking about it and what she said. I'm writing this blog in response to her, but I wanted to share it with everyone else as well, because this is important stuff!
You see, it is one thing to say that God cares for us, but it is quite a different matter to say that God takes a personal interest in each of us... and that is a fact. He does take a special interest in me, you... all of us. Remember the story that is found in the Gospel of Luke where the shepherd finds the sheep that had become lost? He celebrated that this lost sheep was found. The good shepherd (Jesus) also finds such joy in each of us. Each one matters to him. Life can become harsh and lonely and at times we feel like we are overwhelmed and lost in the crowd... feeling as if no one cares. Most all of us have had times where we thought it would be easy to just disappear... to run away... or even to end our life; and we are convinced that it would not matter to anyone. Bottom line, when we feel this way, we feel we are of no value to anyone or anything. And Satan convinces us that the easy way is to just "go away." (Notice how innocent he makes that sound?)
But I'm here to tell this young lady, and anyone else who is reading... God understands. He knows that you are not perfect... He understands your struggle and He even understands your loneliness. Again... you are valuable to Him! He loves you, imperfections and failure and all. He spoke to this great love in Luke 11, saying, "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
You see, God says, "I don't care where you've been, what you've said or done (or not said or done), I only care for you." Jesus used the parable of the lost sheep and another of the lost coin to show how much the Father cares about each individual. It simply is NOT only about humanity as a whole... it is about you... and me... and each and every one of us.
You are loved. You are valuable. You matter!
You may feel all alone, but Jesus is right there... just breathe his name and let yourself fall into his loving arms. Cast your cares upon him... for he cares for you!
Some 3 hours after that conversation, I'm still thinking about it and what she said. I'm writing this blog in response to her, but I wanted to share it with everyone else as well, because this is important stuff!
You see, it is one thing to say that God cares for us, but it is quite a different matter to say that God takes a personal interest in each of us... and that is a fact. He does take a special interest in me, you... all of us. Remember the story that is found in the Gospel of Luke where the shepherd finds the sheep that had become lost? He celebrated that this lost sheep was found. The good shepherd (Jesus) also finds such joy in each of us. Each one matters to him. Life can become harsh and lonely and at times we feel like we are overwhelmed and lost in the crowd... feeling as if no one cares. Most all of us have had times where we thought it would be easy to just disappear... to run away... or even to end our life; and we are convinced that it would not matter to anyone. Bottom line, when we feel this way, we feel we are of no value to anyone or anything. And Satan convinces us that the easy way is to just "go away." (Notice how innocent he makes that sound?)
But I'm here to tell this young lady, and anyone else who is reading... God understands. He knows that you are not perfect... He understands your struggle and He even understands your loneliness. Again... you are valuable to Him! He loves you, imperfections and failure and all. He spoke to this great love in Luke 11, saying, "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
You see, God says, "I don't care where you've been, what you've said or done (or not said or done), I only care for you." Jesus used the parable of the lost sheep and another of the lost coin to show how much the Father cares about each individual. It simply is NOT only about humanity as a whole... it is about you... and me... and each and every one of us.
You are loved. You are valuable. You matter!
You may feel all alone, but Jesus is right there... just breathe his name and let yourself fall into his loving arms. Cast your cares upon him... for he cares for you!
